Lady&#39;s handbag



Feb. 10, 1953 s. CASSELL 2,627,885

LADYS HANDBAG Filed Jan. 5', 1951 INVENTbR. 5/0/vz-r Z. C4555! Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention is directed to handbags, more particularly the novel construction thereof wherein the covering of such handbags may be made reversible and removable.

It has become common usage for women to carry handbags which match the general ensemble they are wearing or to suit particular occasions. As a result, it has become necessary for such persons to have on hand considerable number of handbags for the various occasions and this entailed a considerable expenditure.

It has previously been proposed to provide in a ladys handbag a panel in each side thereof which had inserted therein a member which was removable. By provision of a structure of this kind it was possible to remove the members and replace them with other members of different design. Thus a handbag could be converted in a relatively easy manner into a bag of different design. However, such a structure was found to be quite expensive and thus there was a deterrent to the ready sale thereof. Also the alteration of the design of the handbag by use of such members was not sufficiently complete in many cases so that the basic design remained readily visible.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the difliculties and disadvantages inherent in handbags of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a ladys hand bag so constructed that it is convertible into a handbag of different design commensurate with the occasion and the dress of the user.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a handbag of the character described in which there is embodied a simple construction whereby the handbag may be converted into handbags of three or more different designs or characters.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a covering for a handbag which is detachable and is also reversible and results in protection to the handbag while increasing the attractiveness thereof.

In practicing the present invention there is provided a ladys handbag of any suitable size, shape and character and constructed in any of the known manners. The improvements of the present invention are applicable to any of the handbags presently on the market. Such handbags have as an integral part of their design a two part frame to which the upper open edges of the handbag are secured and suitable latches are provided to clamp the parts of the frame together to close the handbag, and usually a chain,

strap or the like is provided at the top of the frame for carrying purposes.

The present invention contemplates the provision of such a complete handbag and in addition a separate cover, usually of flexible material, having a size and shape such that it is adapted to cover the sides and bottom of the handbag. The cover is provided with eyelets at the corners thereof which are adjacent to the top of the frame members. Cooperating with the eyelets are a' corresponding number of pins fixed into the top of the frame and extending outwardly. The cover is wrapped around the handbag with the eyelets threaded onto the pins and suitable latches secured to the frame to hold the cover in place on the pins.

The cover has two different designs on its two faces and the eyelets are so formed that regardless of which face of the cover is in contact with the handbag, the locking arrangement for the cover is equally operable.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a handbag made in accordance with the present invention and showing the detachable and reversible cover in place;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, some parts being broken away for clearness;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof, some parts being broken away and showing in part a cover in place and in part the bag ready to receive a cover;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a cover showing particularly the eyelets formed therein; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the cover in folded position in preparation for attachment to the handbag.

The handbag I is of usual construction and has a two-part frame, the parts 2 and 3 thereof being fixed to the respective sides of the open top of the handbag. The frame members are hinged together as shown at 4 and a catch 5 of usual construction is provided along the top thereof. Also a chain or strap may be secured to the top of said frame.

The cover consists of a bottom member 6 having either joined thereto or integral therewith sides I and 8. In the outer corners of sides I and 8, eyelets 9 of usual construction are formed.

Bottom 6 of the cover is intended to contact with bottom ID of the handbag and sides 1 and 8 thereof are adapted to contact with sides I I and [2, respectively, of the handbag. Pins l3 are fixed in the upper edges of frame members 2 and 3 3 adjacent to the ends thereof, the distance be tween pins 13- being equal to the distance between eyelets 9 on each of sides I and 8. Thereby a close fit is obtained when the cover is Wrapped around the handbag and the eyelets are threaded on to the pins.

At each of the outer upper corners of frame parts 2 and 3 are vertical hinges l5. Plates I l swing on said hinges and they are provided near their outer ends with vertically placed cylinders l6. These cylinders are so proportioned and so located that they form a. sloping surface to ride over pins I3 and by the inherent resiliency of the metal of plates M will act as latches to securely hold the cover in position. The ends of plates (4 are flared outwardly at IT, providing a finger hold whereby the latches may be removed from the pins for manipulation of the cover.

It is quite obvious that applic-ants construction is one which lends itself readily to attachment and removal of a. cover and the reversal thereof and reattachment, or the latches may be placed in closed position without 'a cover and the basic design of the handbag will then be exposed. The manipulation of the several elements is quite simple and the result is very effective.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a-single specific embodiment thereof, the invention is not limited thereto as many changes in the details of construction may be made within the spirit of the invention. For instance, the cover may be made of relatively stiff sections suitably hinged together or otherwise united at the-junction of the bottom and sides thereof. The shape of the cover usually corresponds with the shape of the handbag and covers the sides and bottom thereof. If desired, extensions may be provided for the sides of the cover so as to extend over the ends of the handbag as well as the sides thereof. The latching arrangement may be varied and other types of latches either hinged or otherwise may be utilized. In this connection cylinders 16 may be replaced by equivalent elements. Instead of the arrangement of pin and eyelet as shown in the drawings, the arrangement may be reversed.

These and other changes in the details of the construction may be made without departing from the principles herein set forth, in view of which the invention is to be broadly construed and be limited only by the character of the claims appended hereto. 7

I claim:

1. A ladys handbag comprising a container open at the upper end to receive articles, a twopart frame attached to said open end, means for latching the parts of said frame together to close said handbag, a detachable cover for said handbag extending around the bottom and the two sides of said handbag, the ends of said cover terminating at said frame parts respectively, and means for detachably securing said ends to said frame including eyes in said cover and pins on said frame parts, said pins extending into said eyes, a pair of latches on each end of said frame and cooperating with said pins, said latches being pivoted to said frame parts, said latches having arms extending into contact with said pins, and keepers having cam faces on said arms for resiliently engaging the sides of said pins.

2. A ladys handbag comprising a container open at the upper end to receive articles, a twopart frame attached to said open end, means for latching the parts of said frame together to close said handbag, a detachable cover for said handbag extending around the bottom and the two sides of said handbag, the ends of said cover terminating at said frame parts respectively, and means-for detachably securing said ends to said frame including eyes in said cover and pins on said frame parts, said pins extending into said eyes, a pair of latches on each end of said frame and cooperating with said pins, said latches be ing angular and being pivoted to said frame parts, said latches having arms extending into contact with said pins, and keepers having cam faces on said arms for resiliently engaging the sides of said pins, the arms of each pair being substantially parallel and on opposite sides of said frame when engaging said pins.

SIDNEY L. CASSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lobel Sept. 27, 1938 

